Olive Tree Named &#39;ASKAL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Olea europaea  L. olive tree variety named ‘ASKAL’, particularly characterized as a medium-sized tree with controlled, vigorous growth habit; high fruit yield; resistance to  Spilocaea oleagina;  and production of mature fruit with average commercial oil content (about 23.5% on fresh weight basis under irrigation), a high oleic acid content (about 72%), good polyphenol content (about 233 mg/kg), and good eating quality with an organoleptic character that is of well-balanced fruit-grassy taste.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Olea europaea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘ASKAL’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of an olive tree, botanically described as Olea europaea L. of the Oleaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘ASKAL’.

The new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, Shimon Lavee, Benjamin Avidan and Yair Manni, in Bet Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Olea europaea variety with a vigorous growth habit; high fruit yield; resistance to Spilocaea oleagina (peacock eye leaf disease); and production of mature fruit with good eating quality.

The new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 1990 in Bet Dagan, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Olea europaea ‘MANZANILLO’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Olea europaea variety ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented). The new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ was discovered from the progeny of the stated cross in 1993 and selected in 1994 by the inventors in a controlled environment in Bet Dagan, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Olea variety by rooting of vegetative cuttings was first performed in the spring of 1995 in Bet Dagan, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new variety reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘ASKAL’ which in combination distinguish this olive tree as a new and distinct variety:

1. medium-sized tree with vigorous growth habit;

2. high fruit yield;

3. resistance to Spilocaea oleagina; and;

4. production of mature fruit with average commercial oil content (about 23.5% on fresh weight basis under irrigation), a high oleic acid content (about 72%), good polyphenol content (about 233 mg/kg), and good eating quality with an organoleptic character that is of well-balanced fruity-grassy taste.

In comparison to the unpatented, parental varieties, Olea europaea ‘MANZANILLO’ and ‘BARNEA’, the new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Variety ‘MANZANILLO’ ‘BARNEA’ Trait ‘ASKAL’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Trunk Diameter About 43 cm About 43 cm About 45 cm (measured at 50 cm above ground) Tree habit Upright to Spreading Upright spreading Maximum Tree About 4 m About 4.5 m About 8 m Height

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ is the unpatented, parental variety, Olea europaea ‘BARNEA’. In addition to the traits described in the foregoing Table 1, ‘ASKAL’ differs from ‘BARENA’ in the following traits described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Trait Comparison of Trait of ‘ASKAL’ to ‘BARNEA’ Vigor Less vigorous than ‘BARNEA’ Tree habit Less upright and more spreading than ‘BARNEA’ Pruning Less need of pruning and better response to mechanical shaking than ‘BARNEA’ Tree Fruit Density Higher plant density than ‘BARNEA’ Timing of Mature Fruit matures earlier than ‘BARNEA’ Fruit Mature Fruit Oil About 2%-3% higher than ‘BARNEA’ Content

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘ASKAL’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical 10-year old specimen of ‘ASKAL’ exhibiting its overall appearance.

FIG. 2 shows various close-up views of typical unripe, fully grown fruit of ‘ASKAL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical ripe, fully grown fruit of ‘ASKAL’ and it's flesh.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the olive tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘ASKAL’ as grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice in Israel. Trees of ‘ASKAL’ are planted at a distance of 4×7 meters in sandy red loam soil at an elevation of about 30 meters above sea level. Trees of ‘ASKAL’ are irrigated by drip system (about 4 liters per hour) during the summer. Average annual rainfall is about 500 mm, with an average 450 mm of rainfall in winter. NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is administered through the drip system. Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 30.8° C.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on four year old ‘ASKAL’ trees grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel from 2004 to 2007. Quantitative data are expressed as an average of measurements taken from 10 trees of ‘ASKAL’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of full sunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the trees of ‘ASKAL’, insofar as they have been observed, have been identical in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classificiation:     -   -   Botanical.—Olea europaea. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Olea europaea ‘MANZANILLO’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Olea europaea ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings. Taken from one-year old shoots of             juvenile trees (not yet fruit bearing) and which may be             produced all year round, or taken from new growth of mature             branches of fruit-bearing trees (beginning in spring             (April)) and as of July, the mature cuttings are semi wooden             and can be propagated throughout the year until February or             March.         -   Description.—Cuttings of about 12 cm to 15 cm in length,             bearing 1 to 2 pairs of top leaves are taken from mother             plants (any other plant material is removed). Freshly cut             vegetative cuttings are dipped in IBA hormone (2000 ppm) and             then planted in peat-perlite substrate (30% peat, 70%             perlite). In winter, the propagating bench is heated to             25° C. Mist irrigation is applied for 15 seconds every 20             minutes in the summer, and for 10 seconds every 30 minutes             in the winter. In the summer, 70% shading of the cuttings is             maintained to keep the temperature below 30° C. In the             winter, the temperature is kept above 15° C. Root initiation             can be observed after 4 weeks in the summer and 6 weeks in             the winter. Two to three weeks later, the cuttings can be             hardened. -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.         -   Temperature.—Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is             7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is             30.8° C.         -   Fertilization.—NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is             administered through the drip system.         -   Growth regulators.—No growth regulators are used.         -   Pruning or trimming requirements.—The olive tree of ‘ASKAL’             as described is grown without training. When the trees are             freely grown, the size and the shape assumed by the plants             are not typical of Olea europaea L. species. -   Tree:     -   -   Age.—Observed trees were 4 years old.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Crown density.—Dense.         -   Height.—About 4.0 meters.         -   Attitude.—Erect.         -   Abnormal leaves.—Present.         -   Trunk.—Diameter (measured at 50 cm above ground): About 43             cm.         -   Branches.—Pubescence: Few to moderate amount of feathers             Color of New Growth (fruiting shoot): Light grey Internode             length: Short, about 11 mm to 20 mm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—The arrangement of the leaves is typical of             Olea europaea L. species (two opposite leaves per each             node). -   Lamina:     -   -   Overall size.—Large.         -   Length.—From 58 mm to 75 mm.         -   Width.—From 12 mm to 14 mm.         -   Ratio (length/width).—Small to medium.         -   Twisting.—Absent.         -   Curvature of longitudinal axis of blade.—Flat.         -   Overall shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Acute.         -   Undulation of margin.—Weak.         -   Leaf glossiness (both surfaces).—Absent.         -   Color (mature).—Upper side: Dark Yellow-green, RHS 146A             Lower side: Yellow-green, RHS 148D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm to 6 mm. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming time.—Mid-April in Bet Dagan, Israel.         -   Ripening time.—Medium.         -   Structure.—Long and compact.         -   Branching.—Strong.         -   Axillary flowers.—Absent.         -   Flower.—Diameter: About 6 mm to 8 mm Color: White, RHS 155A             Pollen color: Yellow, RHS 5B.         -   Buds.—Shape: Obovate. Size (just before opening): Small to             medium Color: Light yellow-green, RHS 145A Pubescence:             Strong.         -   Petals.—Number per flower: Four.         -   Sepals.—Number per flower: Four.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 1 mm to 2 mm. -   Fruit (drupe): In the following description, Position A refers to     the position in which the fruit shows its largest asymmetry.     Position B can be reached from position A by turning 90 degrees     along the longitudinal axes in a way that presents the most     developed part of the fruit to the observer (according to UPOV     rules).     -   -   Maturity when described.—Ripe for eating.         -   Maturity (ripening) period after full bloom.—Medium.         -   Drupe detachment resistance.—Medium (251-500 g).         -   Stalk.—Length: 11 mm to 21 mm Thickness: About 1 mm Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 147C.         -   Stalk cavity.—Shape: Circular. Width: Narrow. Depth: Very             shallow to shallow.         -   Overall size.—Very small to small.         -   Length.—About 16 mm to 21 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 9 mm to 12 mm.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Central.         -   Overall shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apical shape.—In Position A: Pointed. In Position B:             Pointed.         -   Base shape.—In Position A: Truncate. In Position B:             Truncate.         -   Symmetry.—In Position A: Weakly asymmetric. In Position B:             Symmetrical.         -   Transversal section shape.—Circular.         -   Colour.—Unripe (immature): Yellow-green, RHS 144A Ripe             (mature): Red-purple, RHS 70A Flesh (mature, freshly cut):             Light yellow-green, RHS 145B.         -   Conspicuous of marbling.—Medium.         -   Mucron.—Present.         -   Mottles.—Size: Small Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144C.         -   Pistil scar position.—Not central. -   Stone (endocarp):     -   -   Length.—About 14 mm to 15 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm to 7 mm.         -   Color (when dry).—Beige, closest to greyed-orange group, RHS             165D.         -   Overall shape.—In Position A: Elliptic. In Position B:             Elliptic.         -   Distal shape.—In Position A: Pointed. In Position B:             Pointed.         -   Base shape.—In Position A: Pointed. In Position B: Pointed.         -   Symmetry.—In Position A: Symmetrical. In Position B:             Symmetrical.         -   Shape of cross section.—Circular.         -   Position of largest cross section.—Central.         -   Grooving.—Weak.         -   Groove distribution at apex.—Absent.         -   Groove distribution at base.—Irregular.         -   Number of grooves at the base.—Less than 7.         -   Mucron.—Absent.         -   Suture conspicuousness.—Absent or very weak. -   Resistance to abiotic factors:     -   -   Cold.—Medium-high. -   Resistance to parasites:     -   -   Spilocaea oleagina.—‘ASKAL’ exhibits resistance.         -   Pseudomonas savastanoi.—‘ASKAL’ has not been tested. 

1. A new and distinct Olea europaea L. olive tree variety named ‘ASKAL’, as illustrated and described herein. 